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George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Tension is simmering in the MDC-T provincial structures where camps have reportedly emerged and are fighting to control the Masvingo Urban seat ahead of next year’s harmonised elections.

Two distinct camps have emerged within the beleaguered MDC-T in Masvingo, with one rooting for former Masvingo Urban legislator Mr Tongai Matutu while the other is gunning for businessman Mr Takanai Mureyi to represent the opposition party in next year’s polls.

The seat is held by Cde Daniel Shumba of Zanu-PF, who defeated Mr Matutu in the 2013 harmonised polls.

Impeccable sources told The Herald that temperatures were at a boiling point as the war between Mr Matutu and Mr Mureyi escalated.

While Mr Mureyi was not reachable, Mr Matutu downplayed the alleged tiff.

“There are some people who want to use other people’s names in order to get beer, apparently,” he said. “There is no tiff between me and Mureyi. I will make sure that there is peace between us.”

Mr Matutu was non-committal on whether or not he harboured an interest to contest the Masvingo Urban seat on an MDC-T ticket in next year’s polls.

“Having served as Masvingo Urban Member of Parliament for two terms means there is a close connection between me and the people,” he said. “The people are free to express whatever they want, but it is too early to say anything about next year’s elections.

“We are still in August and elections are on next year, so it is too early to say anything.”

Mr Mureyi contested and lost the Masvingo West parliamentary seat against Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Ezra Chadzamira in the 2013 polls.

An MDC-T inter-district meeting held recently turned violent after alleged supporters of Mr Mureyi and Mr Matutu clashed. Mr Matutu rejoined the MDC-T after dumping the party to join its former secretary general Mr Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party.

Zanu-PF swept all the 26 National of Assembly seats in Masvingo Province in 2013.